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Wednesday, March 27, 2024

Plant Hunters: Alexander von Humboldt

This year I'm continuing my series on plant hunters, especially those who collected in the Americas at different times of history. It's fascinating to read the accounts from the plant collectors themselves and to learn about their challenges and discoveries. Of course the plants were already known by the indigenous peoples, but the discoveries by other explorers helped broaden the perspective from local environments to the world as a whole. This time we are learning about Alexander von Humboldt (1769-1859), whose greater contribution was to ecology, climate, and earth systems. He also collected botanical specimens from South and Central America and the Caribbean, and placed them in the context of his other interests.




Humboldt was born in Berlin, Prussia (now Germany) to wealthy parents and enjoyed exploring nature as a child. He started his career in mining and made contributions to the field. He inherited a great fortune from his parents, and used it to fund a five-year scientific expedition to the Americas. He sailed with friend and French botanist, Aimé Bonpland and together they explored, took temperature and barometric readings, and collected plants. Humboldt was intrigued about the relationship between geographical regions and the flora and fauna they supported.

To learn more about the botanical aspects of his scientific pursuits, I read Alexander von Humboldt and the Botanical Exploration of the Americas, by H. Walter Lack and translated from the German by Stephen Telfer (Prestel Publishing, Munich, 2018). The book provides an introduction to Humboldt and chapters describing publications of their scientific results, as well as a large botanical art section. The illustrations portray and describe the many plants collected in the Americas, presented in the chronological order of their publication. The backmatter provides a bibliography, an index of place and proper names, and photo credits. The focus on the publication of scientific information is interesting, but makes sense considering Humboldt's many interests, and the breadth of his scientific endeavors.

I was interested to learn that some of the scientific theories that Humboldt championed include continental drift, the Earth's geo-magnetic field, climate zones at different altitudes, and a general understanding of Earth as a whole system. While researching other sources, I learned that Humboldt is not widely known, even though his research, theories, and findings are important for our current understanding of climate and ecology. Looking back over my own schooling, I don't think I was ever introduced to Humboldt, unless it was a small paragraph in a larger chapter (granted, it was many decades ago). I recommend this book to learn more about Alexander von Humboldt, his scientific publications, and to enjoy beautiful botanical art of new world plants. I also recommending mining some of the YouTube videos, books and movies to learn more about this fascinating person from history.

Learn More

  • Who is Alexander von Humboldt? - this Ted-Ed animation describes Humboldt's major accomplishments, and why they are so important. Presented by George Mehler and animated by Flaming Medusa Studios.
  • Introducing Alexander von Humboldt - a short animation about Humboldt, his visit to the United States, and his influence on the scientists, politicians, and artists of America. The film was created in conjunction with the Smithsonian Art Museum.  
  • Wilderness Men - documentary film about Alexander von Humboldt, with narration by Sir David Attenborough (naturalist) and Redmond O'Hanlon (explorer).

  • Alexander von Humboldt in the Americas - a seven-part documentary that retraces the route of his five year expedition and explores his scientific discoveries.

  • Humboldt and the Cosmos - a biography by Douglas Botting. Provides an account of Humboldt's journey through South America

  • Measuring the World - a novel by Daniel Kehlmann that imagines two young Germans setting out to measure the world. One is explorer and naturalist, Alexander von Humboldt, and the other is the reclusive mathematician, Carl Friedrich Gauss. A movie by the same name is based on the book.


Wednesday, March 20, 2024

Field Notes for March

Welcome back to Field Notes!


March 1, 2024

Have I mentioned that it's been raining here in the San Francisco Bay Area? Today it is pouring and cold and miserable outside, but warm and cozy inside. I'm on Spring Watch, counting down to the vernal equinox in several weeks, and dreaming about warmer days ahead.


All this rain is going to pay off in the garden


March 3, 2024

Despite all the rain, the landscaping team has made a lot of progress on the stone walkway. A canvas fly can be stretched over the steel frame to provide shelter from the rain, while they cut and fit the individual stones. The path is like a jigsaw puzzle, but with giant, heavy pieces!


The stone walkway is shaping up


March 6, 2024

Finally the rain cleared enough to take a shot of the progress. In the foreground, the pavers have been reset, leading up to the rebuilt stairway constructed of railroad ties. The rock garden spans the path and stairs. A wood chip path weaves through the yard. Further in the background, the drip irrigation tubing has been arranged in the future meadow. The oak tree canopy fills the sky!


A wide view of the rock garden, paths, and future meadow


March 7, 2024

Sunshine! The landscapers have laid out the plants among the drip irrigation tubing. After a month of mud, rain, and demolition, it is encouraging to see plants. It will take several years for the perennials to take hold. I recall that Rebecca Kolls, of Rebecca's Garden, used to say about perennials that the first year they sleep, the second year they creep, and the third year they leap. In the meantime, the fresh green is beautiful!


Laying out the plants according to the Planting Plan


March 8, 2024

What a week of progress! The stone walkway is almost done, the irrigation tubing is laid out, the perennials are in place and ready to plant, and we've scoped out the electricity for the automated sprinkler system. Surveying all the progress during Golden Hour is a good way to end the week.


Golden hour on a Friday afternoon


March 11, 2024

Took an invigorating walk around Lake Bishop today. Large groups of migrating (and maybe local) ducks and geese congregate on the lake. It is always surprising to see a heron or a cormorant aloft in a tree, but it's a good place for them to take a rest and survey the surrounding scene. 


Cormorant with a birds-eye view


March 15, 2024

Another week of progress in the landscape! The sprinkler system is set up and programmed, the plants are installed, mulch has been spread, the electrical wiring has been done, and the stone path and pavers have been finished with chinking. 


The gaps between the pavers have been filled with chinking

Detail from the rock garden

A few loose ends need to be finished up next week, but most of the work has been completed!


March 20, 2024

Today is the first day of spring!


Spring is here - leaf buds on a sycamore tree at Bishop Ranch

March 23, 2024

It's been raining all night, it's raining pretty hard this morning, and it promises to rain off-and-on all weekend. No complaints from me - the newly planted landscape will thrive with the extra water!


Mom by a glorious yellow brittlebush at Whitewater Preserve

Dad against a backdrop of yellow brittlebush on the road to Whitewater Preserve

Still, I can't help thinking back to all my spring trips to Southern California, to meet up with my folks from Alaska. Together we explored the desert, took photos of beautiful wildflowers and plants, and enjoyed each others company. In 2017, we experienced a "super bloom" of brittlebush (see Whitewater Preserve). Memories of those cheerful yellow flowers and good times brighten the gray skies and dripping rain here in the San Francisco Bay Area! 


Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Counting Birds for the GBBC

In late February I participated in the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC), hosted by The Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Audubon, and Birds Canada. Over a long weekend, citizen birdwatchers from around the world, both novice and expert, count birds from wherever they are. Two free apps are available for identifying and reporting observations - Merlin ID and eBird. The GBBC results for the world are reported on their dashboard (use filters to hone in on specific locations). I participated in the count last year and really enjoyed the experience (see Counting Birds).


A few faithful species visited the yard despite the yard renovation

I'm afraid my results were a little spotty this year because of the landscaping project. Despite the turmoil in the yard, hummingbirds continue to visit the hummingbird feeder throughout the day, and a family of mourning doves scratch for insects in the disrupted dirt every morning and evening. Likewise, the little wren stops by for a quick snack of insects. The new yard design is wildlife friendly, so should be worth all the disruption!